------------------------------------------------------- CONVENTION OF THE GOAN DIASPORA FROM GOA INTO THE WORLD Lisbon, Portugal June 15-17, 2007 Details at: http://www.goacom.org/casa-de-goa/noticias.html -------------------------------------------------------
Lessons from UP Business Standard / New Delhi May 14, 2007 <The reason-in hindsight, of course-seems clear: although everyone seems to think so, it wasn't so much a caste coalition as an economic one. Caste was the instrument but poverty was the glue. Mayawati simply rounded up the poor on her side and got them to vote against the rich. The poor, whether they were Dalits, Brahmins or Muslims, saw the point. Most of her candidates were also this side of 45. That, too, made a difference...The long-term lesson, therefore, should be crystal clear: forget caste, focus on economic status because continued deprivation arising out of growing income disparities, and not caste alone, is now beginning to drive elections. Here, it is useful to state a hypothesis that will be tested several times over in the next three years: the political paradigm of the post-Mandal period has begun to yield ground to something less corrosive and socially divisive. This new paradigm is one based on economic issues...To win an election, it is not enough to rely on anti-incumbency. It is also important to work out why people want change. Mayawati got that absolutely right. ...There are three immediate consequences of this. One is of course the consequence for the presidential election, due in July, and the impact it will have on the life of the UPA government. Second, the BJP, as the leader of the NDA, will do some introspection. The result will make it conclude that it is costly to give up your core agenda. Narendra Modi is driving home this point repeatedly in Gujarat-the latest episode being the arrest of an artist in Vadodara for offending Hindus. **We can therefore expect an increase in communal temperatures over the next year or so.** Third, there is the Congress. Of the 20-odd seats it won in UP, ten are from the Amethi-Rae Bareilly area. It has thus been reduced to a sub-regional party in UP. Someone has to take the blame. Everyone knows who that someone will not be. > What's in store for us in Goa? ------------------------------------------------------- Goanet recommends, and is proud to be associated with, 'Domnic's Goa' - A nostalgic romp through a bygone era. This book is the perfect gift for any Goan, or anyone wanting to understand Goa. Distributed locally by Broadway, near Caculo Island, Panjim & internationally by OtherIndiaBookStore.Com. For trade enquiries contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------------------------------------
